The Lion of Saint Mark eBook

So far, all seemed going on well. The Genoese
had suffered heavily, and made no impression upon
the batteries at the head of the bridge. The
days passed in Venice in a state of restless disquietude.
It was hoped and believed that Chioggia could successfully
defend itself; but if it fell, the consequence would
be terrible.

Already the Hungarians had overrun the Venetian possessions
on the mainland, the Lord of Padua was in the field
with his army, and communication was cut with Ferrara,
their sole ally. Should Chioggia fall, the Genoese
fleet would enter the lagoons, and would sail, by the
great channel through the flats, from Chioggia to Venice;
and their light galleys could overrun the whole of
the lagoons, and cut off all communication with the
mainland, and starvation would rapidly stare the city
in the face.

Polani made all preparations for the worst. Many
of his valuables were hidden away, in recesses beneath
the floors. Others were taken on board one of
his ships in the port, and this was held in readiness
to convey Giulia and Maria, whose husband had willingly
accepted Polani’s offer, to endeavour to carry
her off by sea with Giulia, in case the Genoese should
enter the city.

The merchant made an excursion to Chioggia, with Francis,
to see for himself how things were going, and returned
somewhat reassured. Francis spent much of his
time at the port visiting Polani’s ships, talking
to the sailors, and expressing to them his opinion,
that the Genoese and Paduans would never have dared
to lay siege to Chioggia, had they not known that
Pisani was no longer in command of the Venetian forces.

“I regard the present state of affairs,”
he said, over and over again, “as a judgment
upon the city, for its base ingratitude to the brave
admiral, and I am convinced that things will never
come right, until we have him again in command of
our fleet.

“Giustiniani is no doubt an able man; but what
has he ever done in comparison to what Pisani has
accomplished? Why should we place our only hope
of safety in the hands of an untried man? I warrant,
if Pisani was out and about, you would see Venice
as active as a swarm of bees, pouring out against
our aggressors. What is being done now?
Preparations are being made; but of what kind?
Ships are sunk in the channel; but what will be the
use of this if Chioggia falls? The canals to
that place will be blocked, but that will not prevent
the Genoese from passing, in their light boats, from
island to island, until they enter Venice itself.

“Do you think all these ships would be lying
idly here, if Pisani were in command? Talk to
your comrades, talk to the sailors in the port, talk
to those on shore when you land, and urge, everywhere,
that the cry should be raised for Pisani’s release,
and restoration to command.”

Chapter 18: The Release Of Pisani.

On the morning of the 17th, the party were sitting
at breakfast, when Giulia suddenly sprang to her feet.